The Totoket Historical Society, Inc.
Letter of Marque
0
Issued by Jonathan Trumbull, Governor of Connecticut
May1, 1781
Transcribed
By
Eugene C. MacMullan
2007
Digitized
by
Theodore Groom Ph.D.
Chairman, Technology
October 2012
2012-059-001
Introduction:
The following is a scan of an original Letter of Marque issued to Eli Rogers in May of
1781 by Jonathan Trumbull, Governor of Connecticut. A transcription of that document
is included.
During the time of the American Revolution, a Letter of Marque was a government
issued license authorizing a ship known as a privateer to attack and capture enemy
vessels and bring them before admiralty courts for condemnation and sale. Cruising for
prizes with a Letter of Marque was considered an honorable calling combining patriotism
and profit, in contrast to unlicensed piracy.11 During the Revolution, the British, after
capturing an American privateer, might consider the officers and crew as traitors and
course, quite dangerous. Many privateers operated out of Connecticut waters.
1
WikipeiA:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Privateer
State of Connecticut
By the Governor
Instructions to Eli Rogers, Mariner, Commander of a Vessel or Boat called
the Gull belonging to Capt. Rueben Rose & Co of said state.
You may by force of arms attack, subdue and take all ships and other vessels
belonging to the crown of Great Britain, or any of the subjects thereof, on the high seas or
between the high and low water marks except the ships or vessels together with their
cargo belonging to any inhabitant or inhabitants of Bermuda or such other ships or
vessels bringing persons with intent to reside within the United States which you shall
suffer to pass unmolested, the commander whereof permitting a peaceable search &
giving satisfactory information of the contents of the lading & destination of their
voyages.
You shall bring such ships & vessels as you shall take with their guns, rigging,
tackle, apparel, furniture & lading to some convenient port in this state, that
proceedings may thereupon be had in due form before the courts which are or shall be
then appointed to hear and determine causes Civil & maritime.
You or one of your Chief officers shall bring or send the Master & pilot and one
or more principal person or persons of the company of every ship or vessel by you taken
as soon after the capture as may be to the Judge or Judges of such court aforesaid to be
examined upon Oath & make answer to the interrogations which may be propounded
touching the interest or property of the ship or vessel and her lading & at the examination
you shall deliver or cause to be delivered to Judge or Judges all Papers, Sea Briefs,
Charter Parties, Bills of Lading, Packets, Letters and other Documents and writings found
on board, proving the said papers by the affidavit of yourself or some other person
present at the capture, to be produced as they were received without fraud, addition,
subduction or embezelment.
You shall keep & preserve every ship or vessel & cargo by you taken until they
shall by sentence of a court properly authorized be adjudged lawful prize or acquitted, not
selling, spoiling, wasting or diminishing the same nor breaking the bulk thereof nor
suffering any such thing to be done.
You shall by all convenient opportunities send to me written accounts of the
captures, copies of your journal from time to time & intelligence of what may occur
with the number and names of the captives & whatever you shall discover concerning
the designs of the enemy & the destinations, motions & operations of their Fleets &
Armies.
You shall observe all such further instructions as shall be given you hereafter
by me in the premises where you shall have notice thereof. You shall not by yourself or
Crew practice any illicit trade with the Enemy on Long Island but you shall take care to
detect all illicit trade to said island or any other place within the enemy lines or
dominions and bring to condign punishment all such person or persons as you shall
discover to be concerned in or carrying on any illicit trade or traitorous practice with the
enemy according to the Law in such case made and provided & if you shall do
anything contrary to these instructions or to others hereafter to be given or willingly
suffer such things to be done, you shall not only forfeit your Commission and be liable
to an action for breach of the conditions of your Bond but be responsible to the party
grieved for damages sustained by such malaversations.
The Gull, in concert with the Connecticut Privateers Revenue and Rattlesnake took part in the capture of 3
You shall keep your Journal from the time of your setting forth on your cruise
and preserve every material resource and making your xxxxxxxxxxx proceedings to me
at the end of forty days or to B. General Ward at Guilford.
British ships in June of 1779. Those ships were Lively, 40-ton, Mayflower, 109-ton and John, 96-ton.
Dated at Lebanon the 1st May, AD 1781
Jonathan Trumbull
The Gull, in concert with the Connecticut Privateers Revenue and Rattlesnake took part
in the capture of 3 British ships in June of 1779. Those ships were Lively, 40-ton,
Mayflower, 109-ton and John, 96-ton.
The following incomplete list of ships were legally registered in Connecticut and
operated as Privateers during the Revolutionary War.
Abigail, sloop. Commission: August 1777. Owner: Ackley Riley. Prizes: British
sloop, name unknown, August 29, 1777; 0Sloop The General Burgoyne, September 3,
1777.
Betsey sloop. Commission: Date unknown. Owners: Ackley Riley and Abraham
Wright of Farmington. Prizes: British sloop, name unknown, June 23, 1780.
Enterprise, schooner. Commission: June 1777. Owner: Jason Chester followed by
Moses Tyron. Prizes: British sloop,
Experiment; schooner, Friendship; sloop, Hap Hazard; schooner, Greyhound;
sloop, Swallow; sloop, Nonpareil. Dates unknown
Fair Trader, schooner. Commission: Date unknown. Owner: Joseph Webb;
Commander, Joseph Webb. Record unknown.
Gull, schooner. Commission: June 17, 1779. Owner: Levi Riley. Commander:
William Bunce. Record unknown.
Hero, sloop. Commission: January 14, 1778. Owners: Jacob Riley, Moses
Williams and Ephriam Williams. Commander, Jacob Riley. Riley taken prisoner and
exchanged August 3, 1782.
Humbird, schooner. Commission: October 21, 1781. Owners: John Wright, Oliver
Goodrich, and John Bulkley Jr. Commander: Oliver Goodrich. Record unknown.
Jason, brigantine. Commission: November 27, 1780. Owners: John Wright and
Company. Commander: Samuel Stillman, later Moses Tyron. Record unknown.
Lash, sloop. Commission: Date unknown. Owner: Thomas Newsom. Record
unknown.
Lucy, sloop. Commission: December 2, 1777. Owner: Joseph
Bulkley. Commander: Thomas Sellow. Prizes: British schooner, Tyrall, December 12,
1777; Sloop Elizabeth, December 15, 1777; sloop Dove, 1778; schooner, York, June 15,
1779; sloop, Tyron, 1779.
Mentor, schooner. Commission: April 17, 1779. Owners: Moses Tryon, James
Lockwood, and James Church of Hartford. Commander: Moses Tryon. Record unknown.
Nancy, sloop. Commission: April 17, 1779. Owners: John Wright and
Company. Commander: Moses Tryon. Tryon and his vessel were captured by the enemy
and carried into New York in May of 1779. Tryon was exchanged on June 26, 1779 for
one George Kidd.
Ranger, brigantine. Commission: May 25, 1780. Owners: Ebenezer Barnard Jr.
and Company. Commander: Ashbel Riley. Captured November 14, 1780 near Montauk.
Revenge, sloop. Commission: 1776. Owner: Silas Deane. Record unknown.
Samuel, brigantine. Commission: August 17, 1779. Owners: John Wright and
Co. Commander: John Bulkley Jr. According to the "Connecticut Gazette" of New
London, Capt. Bulkley and his brig were taken by the British and taken to the West
Indies.
Snake, sloop. Commission: January 23, 1778. Owner: James
Stanley. Commander: Ackley Riley. Prizes: British Sloop Maccaroni, February 16,
1779; schooner, Jenny, June 7, 1779; vessel, name unknown, November 13, 1779.
Washington, sloop. Commission: September 7, 1779. Owners: Justus Wright and
John Wright and Company. Commander: Israel Deming followed on Feb. 20, 1780 by
Richard Reynolds. Prizes: Two British sloops, names unknown.2
2
Wethersfield Historical Society: Wethersfield’s Maritime Contribution To The
Revolutionary War http://www.wethhist.org/articles-from-thecommunity/2012/03/wethersfields-maritime-contribution-to-the-revolutionary-war.html